Gilmanton Year-Round Library launches renewed 'Arts in the Library' program to showcase local talent

GILMANTON ― The Gilmanton Year-Round Library is thrilled to announce the launch of its renewed "Arts in the Library" program, a vibrant community initiative designed to showcase the rich creative talent thriving right in the Gilmanton area. By transforming the library’s walls into a rotating community art gallery, the program offers local creators a unique platform to share their vision with neighbors, visitors, and book lovers alike.

GYRLA is proud to kick off the program with an exhibition by local artist Tresa Livernois. A resident of Gilmanton since 1992, Livernois recently retired after a remarkable 36-year career as a high school art educator at Kingswood Regional High School. She dedicated nearly four decades to helping students unlock their artistic potential and find their creative voices; now, the library is delighted to spotlight her personal artistry.

After a career spent championing young artists, she is the ideal person to help us open this new creative chapter at the library

Livernois’s own creative journey is as varied as it is inspiring. A lifelong maker, she enjoys painting, jewelry making, sewing, knitting, and crocheting. In 2007, she co-founded a custom "design your own" handbag business, followed by the launch of Tresa Leigh Originals in 2013, which initially specialized in vintage button jewelry. Today, her jewelry business has evolved into a collaborative passion project with her husband, together crafting stunning beach stone and silver jewelry sold at local shops and craft fairs.

Driven by an experimental spirit, Livernois draws profound inspiration from the world around her.

She uses her own photography to capture the essence of the places she visits, translating those moments into vivid, expressive paintings. In recent years, her focus has expanded into mixed-media abstractions — a process she finds liberating. By embracing a freer, more playful approach to the canvas, she infuses her subjects with a captivating sense of energy and movement.

The community is invited to visit during library hours to view Livernois's work in person. To learn more about her art, request a custom commission, or ask questions, she can be reached directly at TresaLivernois@gmail.com. 

The "Arts in the Library" program is open to both amateur and established local artists. Whether your passion is painting, photography, illustration, or mixed media, GYRLA encourages creators of all backgrounds and mediums to apply for a future month-long feature slot.

Artists interested in reserving a featured exhibit space can easily submit a request. For more information on submission guidelines, display dimensions, and calendar availability,  contact the library via email at gyrlanh@gmail.com.